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13 y William Ml-acfarlan 



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entered according to Act of Congress in the year 188t>. by William 

Maefailane, in the office of the Librarian of Congress, ' 

at Washington, D. C. All rights reserved. 



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GODFREY & CRANDALL, PRINTERS, MILWAUKEE, WIS. 



PREFACE. 

It cannot be truthfully denied, but that the present com- 
petitive system of Society now practiced in transacting 
general business, teaches the pernicious doctrine of beating 
one another out of doors; a destructive system, which has by 
the Republic of the U. S. been borrowed from autocratic 
Europe, and particularly from her ladyship, who claims to be 
mistress of the ocean, and boasts of possessing a wide domain 
on which the sun can never set. A destructive system that 
creates extreme wealth and extreme poverty: For example. 

Look at this picture in America. Look at the other side in America. 
Millions. 



W. H. V., 
J. G., 

Mackey, 

Hopkins, 

Crocker, 

Stanford, 

Fair, 

Flood & 0. B. 

Baldwin, 



$201,000,000 
100,000,000 
32,000,000 
30,000,000 
40,000,000 
40,000,000 
10,000,000 
10,000,000 
20,000,000 



Jails, 

Poorhouses, 

Able bodied workmen out 
of employ, 

Burglars, 

Murderers, 

Hypocrites, 

Suckers, 

Tenements in large cities for 
the producers of wealth 
unfit to dwell in. 

Look at the other side of the pic 
tuie of Great Britain. 

Mammoth prisons, 

Mammoth workhouses, 

Thousands of mechanics, laborers 
out of employ, 

2,000,000 Paupers. 

Large standing army and navy to 
keep poor folks in order, 

Crofters that cultivate the soil, who 
helped to support the toiling mil- 
lions, are in adfstitute condition 
and t elong to that portion of the 
population that have been driven 
from the land, living in large 
cities, with a bare existence, while 
the land has been supplanted 
by Red deer and Her church de- 
fends it with all the abuse of 
power. 

THINK ! BROTHEKS THINK ! 

COME YE CRITICS. 

Forward ye critics ; millionaires now call, 
Pull your strong bow and let the arrows fall. 
Some years, Mac's been a target for your fame, 
And now requests you'll finish up the game. 
He gives you food, on which you may get fat, 
Come sneaking critic millions at your back, 
Conspiring tools by might, will take their stand 
To shelter brigands, who have seized the land, 

The people's Land, 

MacFARLANE. 



Look at this picture of the alleged 
mistress of the ocean. 

Land acres. 
Duke of Sutherland, 1,358,425 

Duke of Buccleugh, 459,260 

Sir James Matheson, 406,070 

Earl of Biedalbine, 372,629 

Earl of Seafield, 305,891 

Duke of Richmond, 286.407 

Earl of Fife, 257,652 

Alexandria Matheson, 220,433 

Duke of Athol, 194,640 

Duke of Devonshire, 193,121 

Duke of Northumberland, 185,515 
Duke of Argyle, 175,114 



LUDINGTON'S ADDITION, 

Milwaukee, Wis., 

January, 1886. 

Sent to the Honorable Grover Cleveland, 

President United States, America, 
Honored Sir:— * March, 1885. 

The memorial of William MacFarlane, now in the 68th 
year of his age, most respectively desires to call your atten- 
tion to the numerous evils that capitalists of the U. S. have 
borrowed from the monarchical nations of Europe and intro- 
duced into this country; corrupt systems, which have proven 
to be an immense burthen on the shoulders of the indus- 
trious class, who are the real producers of a nation's wealth, 
and who by some political orators and authors are denounced 
as " The Common People/' And as your memorialist hap- 
pens to be one of them, he has taken the liberty of stringing 
some of these lamentable evils together in plain readable 
poetry, to be studied by the grasping monopolists of this great 
productive (or should be self-supporting) country. 

Honored Sir: Last year 1884, you were by the voice of the 
people awarded the highest power on the face of the earth, 
viz: president of the U. S. of America, a lofty position soar- 
ing far above any existing monarchical power, be it absolute, 
or limited, and your memorialist begs to remind you, that it 
is your bounden duty to see that the honest producers of 
wealth are justly represented in the legislature, which has 
not hitherto been faithfully accomplished, consequently the 
annexed poem is addressed as timely warning to the grasping 
monopolists of this fruitful nation, who in many instances 
abuse their power; as also to the productive class who are 
too frequently hurried into very needy circumstances and 
then stigmatized as idle loafers or tramps. Although your 
memorialist is aware that his humble poem contains hard 



nuts to crack, yet he trusts you possess a set of teeth suffi- 
ciently sound to crack them and extract therefrom the 
decayed substance, which require to be filled up with sound 
kernels before your legal term expires, so that you will be 
enabled to give a good account of your stewardship. 

You will, therefore, as early as convenient, do a favor by 
carefully perusing the annexed poem, and should it chance 
to merit your approval, be pleased that you will order it to be 
printed and circulated broadcast over the country as a warn- 
ing to those monopolists, who from ignorance believe they 
have a right to abuse their power and at any time drive the 
tailing millions into a state of starvation. 

Your memorialist will, therefore, ask you to request them 
to cast an eye across the ocean and learn the truthful cause of 
the pitable condition of Great Britain and Ireland, whose 
industrious people are now to be seen all over the country 
forming mammoth demonstrations, while the cry as they 
march steadily along rings through the ears of the casual 
observer: " down with the house of lords," " away with the 
upper ten," while behold at the same time in the U. S. of 
America, the country that boasts of a liberal constitution 
instead of showing down trodden nations, an example: the 
United States is actually raising a dangerous aristocracy, 
more to be dreaded than any that has hitherto existed in the 
history of the world, and this ti uth is generally acknowl- 
edged by every searching and investigating mind that is free 
to expose, existing and growing abuses, that are becoming 
disgraceful to Eepublican institutions and cannot for any 
length of time be peacefully tolerated by the honest and 
industrious common people, Ah ! 



WHO AEE THE COMMON PEOPLE? 

To the president of the U. S., the Congress, the Senate, the Monopo- 
lists and the Toiling Millions.. 

Who are the common people ? is a question all may ask, 
Pray answer us ye autocrats, who wear the hidden mask, 



Who come before the people with that air of high degree 

To bid them vote for mamon and unlawful usury. 

Who feed and clothe your children, Ah ! who built you that 

grand home, 
Who, indeed, but common people of whom you speak with 

scorn. 
You may have been to college, learned a smattering of Greek, 
If so, the common people think your language coarse and 

weak. 
Who fought for independence and made the tyrants yield, 
But noble common people on the gory battle field, 
Would you strip them of that liberty, their fathers won of old, 
Fall back ye wily gamblers, they could live without your gold. 
The embers of old tyranny now sticking to your tongue, 
Conveying false impressions that would strain a healthy lung. 
The sinews of America, you scan them with a frown, 
Fall back ye imitators, they'l support no despots crown. 
The associated press, 'tis known hire talent to mislead, 
Misrepresenting Appetites for gluttony and greed. 
Good people often wonder how it braved the storm so long, 
The true epistles, written in the common people's song. 
'Tis hard good people sent on earth, should beg to earn a crust, 
Co-operation, when it comes, that infamy will burst. 
The government must then be taught the common rights of all, 
As all have equal rights to claim to rise, but not to fall. 
Ah ! poverty, the fear of it brings half our earthly woe, 
While usury the root of it, makes nations blood to flow, 
Drives widows and poor orphans to misery and shame, 
Stand off! ye wholesale pirates, who lock up the people's grain. 
A hungry bellv craving food, and not a crust to eat 
Will drive to desperation, yea, to murder and to ch&it, 
To plunder friend or foe alike, no sympathy within, 
Who sets this bad example, but the wealthy steeped in sin. 
Why cultivate the great extremes of poverty and wealth, 
When both must feel the pressure bad, and suffer from ill 

health, 
Why talk of equal rights to all, when reason you upbraid 
Of truth, ye wholesale gamblers, ye appear to be afraid. 
Those foreign institutions, brought in practice long ago 
Have proved a cursed failure, as the common people know 
To imitate the monarchies of Europe they've been led 
And sold themselves as wages serfs, to earn their daily bread, 
To build up princely mansions for non-productive men, 
United to base villians, yes ! that foreign upper ten. 
Who live in idle luxury and spend their time in waste, 
They, who command a better folk, whose actions are more 

chaste, 
Where from the common people, who produce the nation's 

wealth, 



Five-eighths of their hard earnings are now mulcted by sheer 

stealth. 
Yes, by that shameful gambling here that's legalized by law 
The common peoples' children often lack the food to gnaw. 
The miners, artizans, all those who labored when in health 
To build the railways, dig the mines and glean the nation's 

wealth, 
Must! when age sets in, be cared for: that pauper's badge 

disdain. 
That demons brand of monarchy! that stigma! that fou stain. 
A great Republic shall be known by deeds not merely name, 
The name unless the deeds be just, breeds infamy and shame. 
Our rising youth must all be taught, old age commands respect 
To paupers badge, or poor house brand, this nation must object. 
'Tis nonsense preaching brotherhood as matters run just now r , 
Old competition stifles it, will no such good allow; 
Lip worship, minus practice here, has proved no earthly use, 
Contentment cannot reign amid such squander and abuse. 
Your banking institutions have proved rotton to the core, 
.Your railway corporations must be quickly run ashore, 
The legislature hold the reins to guide them on the square, 
The rights of common people claim, they want an honest share. 
It took brave hands to form those roads and bring them 

into shape. 
To build those iron horses running promptly thro' the state. 
They are worth millions now to men who claim a decent share, 
But men who built them oft' have shared deep sorrow and 

despair. 

To build this road, that old man yonder, gave his strength 

in prime 
Of manhood gave his handicraft; yea, yielded up his time. 
Existed sparely just from hand to mouth; day after day. 
Increased your wealth; is now discharged; infirm, fatigued 

and gray, 
A pauper in the world, in want! in abject poverty. 
While you from his hard earnings, roll in shameful luxury. 
Enough; your system's foul, engenders vile disease and want, 
Be gone ye knaves, a pure just method soon shall it supplant. 

Ye bulls and bears of Wall St., soon must doff your ugly names, 
Too long on common people have ye played vile swindling 

games. 
Yes ! throughout the dreary wdnter cornered common 

people's food. 
Such wholesale legal swindling teach us lessons for our good. 
Shameful, indeed, that people in large cities should becram'd, 
Yes true a millionaire did say, " the public may be dmn'd," 
Tho' he claims two hundred millions, he can't carry it above, 
'Tis said they scorn the millions there ; and cultivate true love, 



Ye may own a thorough pacer; ye may be a showy man, 
But hark ! the common people shout, " there goes a damned 

old sham, 
That is the millionaire who said, "the public may be dam'd, 
He who hath stored up millions from the common people's 

land. 
Kich syndicates that crossed the sea and bought the people's 

soil 
To speculate on brawny hands, as peasants make them toil, 
Who live on shameful idleness; in Europe act severe, 
Must sign their just intentions, or not claim one acre here. 
Enough! we've heard of foreign dukes, their tyranny is known, 
The common people learn they've wrongs to answer for at 

home. 
Ejectments long in practice there, fleecing the needy poor 
Show lords are not the class of men, industry could endure. 
A duel's marching on the way, so sure as we exist, 
Labor is floating thro' the clouds, to -clear away yon mist, 
Extremes of wealth and poverty, must have another birth, 
Or blood will flow in torrents soon throughout this fertile 

earth. 
The garret and the mansion, what a contrast to behold; 
Great nation claiming liberty; high domes to teach the fold. 
See! in yonder damp, cold cellar, five children stricken down, 
Poor creatures crammed in quite as bad, as in any foreign 

town. 
Could the clergy and physicians be heard to speak as one, 
How quickly would the landlords kick up their heels and run. 
? Tis shameful that such tenements should be allowed to stand, 
Breeding pestilence and fevers, spreading broadcast o'er 

the land. 
Go view your growing cities, where corruption dwells within, 
And watch the thousands out of work, in crowded cellars 

mean; • 

How many idle youths there be, who never soiled a hand, 
While here are lying dormxnt, acres, billions of good land. 
Implements of agriculture, stored ready for good use, 
Are all becoming rusty thro' monopoly's abuse, 
Fine tools of all descriptions, lie worse than in ages past 
To spoil in corners hidden, these are errors cannot last. 
The land; brave men, prime implements all ready to be used, 
Lie idle! all inactive and the laborer abused. 
Can workmen stand such evils long? their spirit must arise, 
An honest system must be taught, to open people's eyes. 
Behold, the common people are now watching you about, 
Are looking after something that is worth the finding out, 
Where every willing mother's child with confidence may say 
Yes; old enough I am to work, can get it ev'ry day. 
Hark ! we are trying to subdue that old abusive might, 
Our motto nobly does declare, the common people's right. 



In the producers of all wealth, we firmly put our trust, 

United to a principle, where man to man acts just. 

The legislature must be firm, with labor interfere, 

Must guide the railways, banks and mines, must act a just 

compeer, 
Must regulate our labor hours, that all may earn a crust, 
When liberty for ail to work, must be confirmed, it must. 
Certificates of credit, a medium of exchange, 
To become a legal tender for merchandise and grange, 
Shall search the cunning meaning of supply and true demand, 
And common people with one voice, shall claim the nation's 

land. 
Distribution, loyal science claiming labor as its guide 
To grasp the faithful compass firm, stem the inhuman tide, 
Shall navigate the gallant bark, on channels clear to see, 
That every real producer, shall share true liberty. 
The government made by and for a people understood, 
Will throttle selfish, habits, make the wheel turn round 

for good, 
To regulate the working hours, discourage fraud and sham, 
Make labor prove a blessing to the honest working man. 
Let justice dwell with mercy here, throughout this fruitful 

earth, 
Let silent sorrow vanish, to be filled with joy and mirth, 
Let labor be crowned Sovereign, no longer money king, 
Then human hives shall flourish bright, with joyful tidings 

ring. 



NON-PRODUCTION, DESTRUCTION AND 
CONSUMPTION. 

Look at this side and think of what is in store for your 
future welfare. What does this side create? 

Contempt ! Abuse of power, tyranny, Oppression ! 
Extreme poverty and deplorable misery ! 

Why? 

Because labor the acknowledged parent of all wealth, is 
by our present deceptive and corrupt system compelled to 
support the drones of society, and all their satehtes ! 
'What do you mean by drones of Society? 

Name them. Emperors ! and their Sycophant toadies, 
Kings, Princes, Dukes, Earls, Lords, Squires, Non-productive 
Armies, Non-productive Navies, or in other words, hired, 
legalized, wholesale Murderers, Monopolists, Cringers, 
Toadies, Suckers, Hypocrites, Backbiters, Burglars, Murder- 
ers, Highwaymen, unprincipled Lawyers and Harlots, the 
food of wealthy drones. 



8 

Prostitutes; poor women's daughters, who from ignorance 
and extreme poverty, are forced to prostrate virtue to the 
unnatural will of rich scoundrels for money, then truly the 
old book is correct in branding " Money as the root of all 
evil"," and what can be mentioned in the shape of crime that 
has not its origin in the various temptations that money 
presents ? It is universally acknowledged by expert finan- 
ciers, that money is of no intrinsic value, meaning that it is 
not bonifide wealth, consequently I understand money to be 
only a medium of exchange, which by the law (,of what are 
termed civilized nations)— has by them been made a 
purchasing power, to represent the value of any given article, 
product or commodity exposed for sale in the markets of the 
world, as also a purchasing power to buy up the individual 
that produces real wealth, and by the system of speculating 
on the wealth which a number of individuals produce collec- 
tively, these speculators have introduced a law of usury, 
which creates a class of people who never work; extremely 
rich and the many producers who hire out for wages, ex- 
tremely poor, thus proving that our present system of tran- 
sacting business is a fraud on humanity. 



PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION. 

You have seen and read the other side. 

Now look at this picture and think also while you must 
bear in mind to remember, that land contains all the wealth 
of nations, all the bonifide wealth and it requires a produc- 
tive class of men, to assist nature in the cultivation of the 
land, and digging out of its bowels, the raw material, such as 
coal, iron, copper, etc., and manufacturers to make it useful 
for man and beast. 

Name the producers of wealth. 

Here are the principal: Farmers, Laborers, Miners, 
Lumbermen, Mechanics, Artisans and Sailors, the noble car- 
riers of wealth, who brave the dangers of the ocean to 
exchange the various commodities produced in every clime. 
These are the great producers of wealth, who get for them- 
selves but a scanty portion of what they earn, and really 
without their knowledge, have to support all those drones 
mentioned on the other side. Look at them and tell us, ye 
critics, which of them ever produced a blade of grass or an 
ear of corn. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

027 293 714 A 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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